Game of Thrones Tales: Back to the Throne Room…
Summary: There's only one solution when Tyrion and Sansa have found the new King as mad as the Mad Targaryen and cynically evil, once on the throne, as Joffrey. So evil he's happily allowed the world to be invaded by unspeakably hideous creatures from some little planet out on the spiral rim of the Galaxy, to secure his reign of terror.
Part XXV…
King's Landing…The Compound…Terran Central Offices and HQ of the United Terra 21st Interstellar Development Corps, Westeros-Essos…
The rather Spartan office of Chairman Kach…
Said Kach, in chair facing his guests across his desk, the General and the Senator…
"Any word since Aegon went North with Lannister…?" Kach eyed them.
"Their train seemed on schedule…They transfer to car at the rail head." The General noted, perhaps a bit annoyed at Kach's presumption both in calling the meeting so abruptly and in expecting his presence so unquestioningly. As he were merely another of the Kachs' countless flunkeys and lickspittles. Though an annoyance undetectable in his professionally courteous manner.
The Senator, rather more confident in his own status, content enough…And curious, as was the General, to hear the latest…Relaxed in his own chair.
"No, not a peep from the boy. But he's no doubt enjoying a day away from the burdens and all that…" the Senator smiled. "As for the little feller, he's surely leaving it to the King for now to handle communications. We can check in with him if need be in good time."
"Good enough…General, I suppose you're wonderin' why I'm wastin' your valuable time…" the small, gimlet-eyed Kach smiled at the General. "But I do have some info for you, what you've been waitin' for. Word's come. We've had a successful test up North in the research zone."
"Indeed?" The General, calmly. "And the test met our expectations?"
"And more…" Kach nodded.
"Sounds good." The Senator beamed. "The Mother redeemed at last. And the Destroyers whipped for once and all. The Galaxy open to us again to use as God and we see fit."
"Only a test, Melvin…" Kach put up a hand. "But they survived and performed as we'd hoped."
"Good, good…" nod. "Well, General?" The Senator turned to him. "Ready to believe in all this, now?"
"I've never doubted this world had its share of wonders…" the General, quietly. "I've just wondered if we might be throwing away all other potential benefits, including a unique population with some rather unusual abilities that could, with a little care, be merged with us in a few centuries, perhaps even beyond colonial to partner status."
"We've taken enough humanoid aliens on, General. Before and even after the Destroyers." The Senator shook head. "Our Humanity needs to be purified not further diluted. The Mother will stand for no less, praise her. We've given these creatures a view of a better life. The ones who can adapt to be useful have a future under us. The rest…" he shrugged. "Humanity is what matters, General. Humanity and the Mother."
"The UN may see it differently, Senator."
"The UN will do as the Congress and its President tell them." The Senator, calmly. "We've played by the rules but the folks know what's at stake. Even the most liberal of alien-huggers among them won't err on the wrong side again. Don't worry about the political side of things, General. Leave that to the Chairman and me. You've enough on your plate."
"Speaking of mothers…" Kach, grimly now. "That bitch Wellsome has to be dealt with…"
"I understood we wanted that situation handled strictly by the locals…If possible." the General regarded him.
"You've told Lannister…" the Senator, waiting…
"As much as necessary. That I expect him and his to handle her and that lot of apes following her." Kach coolly. "I don't expect much from the boy, so I gave me the light touch while we were hunting, common threat and all that, but Lannister has sense and understands me. He'll get it done."
"Mother Love…" the Senator chuckled. "If it weren't blasphemy, it'll be a hoot. Ole Agnes is about as 'motherly' as you, Davey."
"She's no joke, Senator…She spits on the Mother and we let her get away, every time since she lost her head and started believing that horse manure."
"Even insane she's had her uses, Dave." The Senator smiled. "We've kept the leash loose only for that."
"No more." Kach firmly. "We're too close to the goal to fool around with her. She may have had her uses elsewhere, even as crazy as she's gone, but she never should have been allowed to slip out to here and with anything remotely dangerous in her care. Things are too fragile to let her and her nonsense muck them up."
"Lets be plain here, Chairman. Are you asking me to deal with her, with or without Lannister's cooperation?" the General, sternly. "If so, I'll need authorization…And a completely free hand. I won't risk my people in piecemeal or hands tied in a situation like this. This involves potential use of nuclear weapons and I will want full UN approval."
"No, just to be ready if the locals fail us…" Kach shook head. "I've made it clear to Lannister his lil' head's on the line in this one. We'll see how he and Aegon manage after they've sized things up."
"Lannister's a warrior and shrewd…" The General considered. "But brave as his people may be…"
"Ole Agnes won't go nuclear unless she's convinced there's no way out. She knows this one is her last chance…She's not about to radiate it and wipe out her last worshippers without good reason." Kach replied.
"She is, as you and the Senator have pointed out, quite insane, since…" the General paused.
"If she goes nuclear it'll be limited…" Kach smiled. "And it might not be the worst thing on a small scale, an ultimate test, so to speak. After all, as the Senator says, we've no real interest in this place once we're done here and have what we need…We've quite enough humanoid freaks as it is among the Sisters. And the Mother, God praise her, is for Man alone, none else." He eyed the two. "Don't worry about the bitch acting without our knowing, gents. We've good intel in the North, our best…" smile.
"You must miss Karen…" the Senator noted.
"She's doing what needs doing…As are all our people there." shrug. "I'll be returning to the Venture on the next transport. Anything personal for the ole folks at home?"
"There's a scarf Lady Sansa sent me for the missus. You might take it along, if it's no trouble." The Senator noted.
"Not at all…The little lady do it herself?" smile.
"Some local fellow she knows, pretty thing. And a pretty little lady…" the Senator smiled. "I hope Lannister has the good sense to appreciate what he's got. I'd like to keep the little feller and his wife, if we can."
"He's pragmatic…" the General, thoughtfully. "But he's hoped to endure us, we'll find it tougher going in the future with him once the project and its goals are fully revealed and done. In my opinion, when it comes down to it, for all his caution, he'll try to fight us."
"Pity he's such a brave little bastard…A coward would see the light of reason and probably do just fine for what's to come. Or a weak-brained lunatic like our crazed little King. What did Shakespeare call Richard II…After he lost it, King of Shadows or something?" Kach, shrugging at his guests, then beaming. "But it's our pet Queen of the Sea I'd like to keep around. And one way or another, we will…The science boys can't wait to get more of a crack at her genetics. And when they're done with her…" benevolent smile. "Be a shame to waste a pretty thing like that. And Karen'd love to show her off to guests...The exiled alien Queen thing is always a draw for parties."
"You always did have an eye for blondes, Dave." The Senator chuckled. "Lucky for you, Karen's a tolerant girl."
"Just helpin' a homeless waif to a secure place…She'd make a fine maid or nanny with a little training." Kach noted. "I know, General…You didn't hear that." Chuckle.
…..
Morning…
A ruined old fort south of the Wall, held for the Night's Watch as a secure storage place for supplies being brought up. Jon, somewhat ungrandly for a Commander, stretched on a bearskin in on the floor, in his coat and daily uniform, snoring a bit in the early dawn. Rudely awakened by a sharp kick…
"Jon…Hey…!" a dark cloak-muffed Arya regarded the startled Commander who'd snapped to life, sword drawn.
He has seen a bit of things…She grinned, her Needle in hand as well.
Three guards, drawn swords, rushing in…A bit hapless at seeing the hooded, cloaked, rather slight figure that had completely eluded their watch to penetrate to their Commander, his safety in their pledge.
"Commander?!" the captain of the guard, one Selim, a grizzled, lean veteran, eyed him, keeping attention on the intruder, his sword drawn to match.
"Arya?!" Jon stared… "It's all right, Selim…Swords down. Arya?! What the gods are you doing here?"
"Just visiting, Johnny." She smiled, pulling back hood. "Heard word you were in the neighborhood and look how lucky I got."
He gave her narrow look…
"How is the builder's keep?" she looked around, a shrewd glance his way…
Gods…He blinked.
You? He regarded her innocent open stare back.
You're my contact with the Faceless?
"Any chance a brother and sister could have a little bit of privacy?" she asked, to all.
"You can leave us, boys. This is Lady Arya Stark, my sister. Resume your positions." Jon told the men, sighing.
Sansa will love this…He rubbed forehead.
Tyrion? Now he really will… I can see him laughing his head off at this. I'd bet he knew all along…
"Jon…" she smiled at him. Opening arms to him which embrace he entered with just the slightest hesitation.
"My Gods, Ary…" he eyed the sword she was putting back under cloak even she held him with her free arm, grin breaking.
"You actually kept Needle all this time?"
"Well…Needle II, actually." She smiled. "How are you, brother?" Eyeing the group of guards somewhat reluctantly leaving now.
Family first, business when your agent's convinced the situation is secure. And first order of business to warn him never to blindly trust me like that again. His sole warning…She sighed inwardly at the thought.
"Once I recover, probably well…" Jon noted.
…
"Now…Let me see…" Tyrion squinted at the controls of the car in which he and Sansa and a by now very nervous Dirter Lieutenant, sat, in a lot at the rail head of the largely but not yet completed rail line from Capital to Wall, C-W proudly logoed on the train's engine. He having insisted after seeing the King's party to their own grander auto transport, on trying his hand at the wheel.
"You've got it?" Sansa beside him looking over the dashboard.
"Of course, it's really quite simple. Turn power on here…." He pressed the starter, nodding at the electric engine's purr. "Ah…And the stick for going from hold to charge to reverse, here. What is that, Sans?"
"Uh, stick-shifter, I think they call it. Right, Lieutenant Myles?" she called."
"Yes, ma'am. Uh…Best to check the road, sir. Before heading out. And I would buckle up, my lady." The lieutenant in back anxiously urged. "Though, really, Minister Lannister…" he tried, looking nervously up and down the road.
"Now, now Lieutenant. I've ridden…Driven…One of these a few times back in the capital."
"Road's a bit more difficult up here, sir."
"Well, one must get used to all the wonderful things your people have bestowed upon us, eh? Don't worry, I take full responsibility and Lady Sansa has absolute confidence in me. Right?"
"Well…" grin. "I like to live an adventurous life sometimes." Sansa grinned. "Don't worry, Lieutenant." She turned back to the blonde, nervously brow-moping officer. "Tryion really has...Whoa!" as the car lurched forward, a wild turn into the trunk road to the main autoway, recently completed from there to the Wall.
"And we're off!" Tyrion, gaily. "Strap in the restraining belts and lets unleash these horsepowers!"
"Signal, sir!" the lieutenant called, desperately. As Tyrion made a sharp right to the main roadway. "Section One of Westeros new autoroad! Our ticket to the Far North!" a billboard they passed in a whirl proclaimed.
"That…" Sansa pointed to the blinker control… "Twist it or up or down or something."
"Up, my lady!" the lieutenant. "Sir…Stop sign! Brake!"
"Brake…? Yes…That's which of these things?" Tyrion looked down. "Hold the wheel, dear." He noted to Sansa who grabbed the steering wheel. "I'll have this figured out in…"
The car raced forward…Several cars lurching and veering out of the way.
"Oh, sorry!" Tyrion called from the open driver's window, looking up and over. Pressing the found brake to bring the car to a halt.
"We're doing rather well between us, eh, dear?" he beamed to Sansa's eager nod as she continued to hold the wheel. Not bad at all… "This is much easier than riding a horse." She noted, happily.
"You all right there, Lieutenant?" Tyrion looked back.
"Yes…Yes, sir…" the lieutenant sighed.
I coulda been on the Barrier, wearing a radiation suit and hoping the Destroyers don't decide the last allotment wasn't quite enough or just decide to cross on a whim. In the glaciers of Altair IV trying to figure out what was killing our boys and girls probing the old Crell ruins with a fifty percent chance of being torn apart. Fighting some rebel band in the greater Development. Arguing with the Cetians over developing their sacred burial ruins and getting a dart in the neck. But no, I had to choose duty here on Westeros-Essos. Easy, they said. They're almost human, they said. The knight stuff is cute, like a theme park back home, they said.
The car whizzed along, veering frequently…The road getting snow-covered and no signs of road maintenance to clear it, the Lieutenant noted.
"What did you call to that fellow?" Tyrion, curious as Sansa pulled head back in from the passenger window after calling to a car that had been entering the roadway from another connecting road, with right of way despite Tyrion's failure to notice.
"Stupid dummmb donkeylike creature…" Sansa translated, happy smile. "It's what they say to such people on Dirt when they violate the auto rules, right Lieutenant?"
"'Stupid dumb ass'? Yes, Lady Sansa." Nod. "But actually we made the violation, ma'am."
"Oh...Well, he was rather rude in any case, making the horns sign, like that thing you Terrans do with your middle digits. Anyway, did I pronounce 'ahss' right?" she asked.
"Perfect, ma'am. Eyes on the road, ma'am! Lord Tyrion, it might be better for you to take the wheel since you're driving!" Myers, urgently.
"Oh, but we drive so well together." Sansa, eagerly.
…